Dancing through History at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum Laci Prince (Executive Director) and Hallie Jo Cartwright (Curator/Exhibit Designer)
“The best things happen while you’re dancing!” —Danny Kaye (White Christmas)
I do not know if the best things happen while you are dancing, or if they just happen at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum (AAMM), but, our most recent event was a huge score for the museum and the community! A museum’s job is to educate the public about history through many different methods making it come alive to both young and old alike. One of the ways to do so is by hosting events that will teach guests an activity of the past to help them understand it from a different perspective. The Arkansas Air and Military Museum teaches about aviation and military history from the Barnstorming age to the Space age. The main building is an all-wooden aircraft hangar built during World War II to house Piper J Cubs used to train a local military detachment in Northwest Arkansas. During the World War II era, there were places that hosted “Canteen” dances for the soldiers, sailors, and marines that were soon to be shipped overseas. These dances had Big Band music such as Glenn Miller swing and served food to the guests. It was a time to have fun and relax before plunging into the fray of war. Over 70 years later, the legacy of the “Stage Door Canteen” has been lost, but
because this pastime was an important part of military history, it deserves to be taught. Thus, the Arkansas Air and Military Museum (AAMM) decided to host a 1940s hangar dinner and dance night bringing the “Canteen” to life for the Northwest Arkansas community. December 2021, the AAMM staff began planning this dance for Valentine’s Day 2022. Gathering band information, researching catering options, and finding a dance teacher were the most important items on the list, and thankfully, these were secured quickly. The University of Arkansas Jazz Band was chosen to play the swing music, and the Northwest Arkansas Dance and Swing taught the lessons! The event was catered by Mess Hall 45, a veteran-owned and operated restaurant that supports the military. Pink and red hearts and flowers decorated the lobby and the hangar giving the ambiance needed for a perfect night. By 5:30 pm, guests were already lining up at the door ready to start the evening of fun. Dinner was served at 6:30 pm and the dancing began at 7:30 pm. Over two hundred guests participated in the evening dancing their way through history as they listened to the music of yesteryear and practiced the steps learned by previous generations. It was a great night filled with history and fun reminiscent of the “Stage Door Canteens” of World War II. It was an event we hope to do again in the future! 29
